TESTIMONY TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND

BILL 48-25: AN ORDINANCE concerning: Subdivision and Development – Zoning – Tiny Home Community Development 

POSITION: Support 

BY: Abby Root, League of Women Voters of Anne Arundel County

Date: June 12, 2025  

Good evening. My name is Abby Root, 1336 Chicory Way, Odenton, representing the League of Women Voters of Anne Arundel County. 

The League supports Bill 48-25.

The League’s support of Bill 48-25 is based upon our Planning and Zoning position to “Promote and pursue balanced development in appropriate target areas that will have minimum impact on the environment and maximum long-term benefit to employment and the tax base including provision of opportunity for affordable housing...”. 

While the League supports the concept of tiny home communities, affordable homes built in a safe, comfortable environment, we are concerned that the bill does not require the communities to be built near public transit. If these communities cannot be built near a public transit center, we recommend they be built along an existing or new bus route that goes to the center. The need for a car to get to employment adds to the cost of living as well as having a negative impact on the environment.  

At the previous hearing on this bill, Councilman Smith showed us photographs of a tiny home community in Georgia.  This community, South Park Cottages outside Atlanta, is very well planned, with walking trails, sitting areas, a dog park, and a barbecue pit.  Homes have modern amenities and high ceilings which give the home a feeling of spaciousness. South Park is so popular that the company, Techie Homes, is in the process of developing another tiny home community, Union Park Cottages. 

Tiny homes and tiny home communities are becoming increasingly popular as a way for people to afford to buy a home.   

The League urges you to vote yes on bill 48-25 and to consider making access to public transit part of the bill. Thank you.